MEGURI 2040 "The Nippon Foundation Fully Autonomous Ship Program"
- Successful fully autonomous navigation of large, high-speed ferry expected to improve safety
TOKYO, Jan 18, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - The Nippon Foundation, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd., (Osaka, Japan; Yasuo Iritani, Chairman) have successfully completed a demonstration test of the world's first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large car ferry, conducted on the Iyonada Sea from Shinmoji, Kitakyushuu City, on January 17.
This demonstration was part of MEGURI 2040, a project promoting the development of fully autonomous vessels supported by The Nippon Foundation. This test demonstrated the world's first fully autonomous navigation system, on a 222-meter ferry, with autonomous port berthing and unberthing using turning and reversing movements and high-speed navigation of up to 26 knots. Other new technologies included in the advanced fully autonomous operation system include sensors to detect other ships using infrared cameras, a remote engine monitoring system, and a sophisticated cyber security system. These advances in fully autonomous ship navigation are seen as a significant step toward safer and more efficient coastal shipping.
Research and development of fully autonomous ship navigation is intended to address maritime issues including crew shortages and accident prevention. This is also expected to become a "future industry" through which Japan can demonstrate to the world its advanced technologies in areas including ICT, AI, and image analysis technology.
The Nippon Foundation launched the MEGURI 2040 fully autonomous ship navigation project in February 2020 through support for five consortia, which will all be conducting demonstration tests to verify their fully autonomous navigation system concepts from January to March 2022.
Fully autonomous ship project (Smart Coastal Ferry)
Today's successful demonstration test was of the fully autonomous Smart Coastal Ferry project. The newly built SOLEIL ferry began navigating with an onboard crew on July 1, 2021, compiling data for the development of a fully autonomous ship navigation system. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., which has experience in developing navigation support systems that realize automation and crew labor savings, is responsible for the integration of the entire system, and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd. is in charge of setting the vessel's system requirements and conducting the demonstration test. These developments will help resolve issues in coastal shipping including improved safety, crew labor savings, and cost reductions.
Demonstration test and development highlights
The demonstration test of the world's first fully autonomous ship navigation systems of the 222-meter smart vessel was conducted on a 240-km route from Shinmoji (Northern Kyushu) to Iyonada, which takes approximately 7 hours, at a maximum speed of 26 knots (approximately 50 km/hour). The test vessel was equipped with a high-precision sensor image analysis system with infrared cameras that can detect other ships even in darkness, a SUPER BRIDGE-X automated ship navigation system that includes an automated avoidance function, and an advanced automated port berthing/unberthing operation system that can perform turning and reversing movements that are even difficult for manned vessels.
One of the biggest issues of a fully automated vessel is fault prediction, and enhanced engine monitoring technologies that monitor motor conditions are being developed and tested as well.
The project is also developing various other technologies essential to the promotion of fully autonomous navigation, including platforms for advanced data security to protect the navigation data used for onshore monitoring and support.
Mitsuyuki Unno, Executive Director, The Nippon Foundation
This was the world's first fully autonomous ship navigation of a large vessel of over 200 meters in length with a maximum running speed of 26 knots, and I hope this will lead to further development toward practical use. There are still many issues to be resolved, however, and I believe today's results will be a guide toward the creation of international rules for fully autonomous vessels.
Naoki Ueda, Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd
This demonstration test greatly accelerated the development of fully autonomous ship navigation systems using many advanced technologies including artificial intelligence. We will continue to develop technologies using the valuable knowledge gained to achieve safety and high quality service for passenger ferries, which play an important role in supporting marine transportation in the island nation of Japan.
Masami Sasaki, Executive Director, Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd.
We are honored to be involved in the development of a fully autonomous ship navigation system that represents the future of Japan's shipping industry.
As a passenger ferry company, we have high expectations for the social application and widespread use of fully autonomous operation as one of the solutions to issues including human error and crew labor savings.
About MHI Group
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world.
For more information, please visit:
JCN Newswire Press Office
Ti Potrebbe Interessare Anche
Alla Milano Design Week 2024 Azimut Yachts porta una barca nella piscina dei Bagni...
Azimut Yachts partecipa alla Milano Design Week 2024 con un’installazione immersiva a cura di AMDL CIRCLE e Michele De Lucchi. Un viaggio...
Poseidon Software: nuova versione 2024, Live Widget ed altre news
Poseidon, il software per la Nautica Italiana, annuncia la nuova versione 2024: parola a Fabio Legni, che racconta in anteprima l’indirizzo strategico...
Synteak Group: sughero e gomma navigano insieme su Evercor®, pavimentazione resistente...
Sughero e gomma navigano insieme su Evercor®, pavimentazione resistente ed Eco Friendly Le eccellenti qualità tecniche del sughero...
Nuvolari Lenard ridefinisce l'interior design con un nuovo approccio olistico al...
Per Carlo Nuvolari e Dan Lenard – cofondatori dello studio Nuvolari Lenard – il cambiamento non è solo il benvenuto, ma anche qualcosa...
Da OPAC un diamante a forma di hard-top per Ferretti InFynito 90
Il nuovo tettuccio vetrato della società torinese montato sull’innovativa Gamma InFYnito di Ferretti Yachts. Presenta una forma originale,...
Garmin: alcuni dei più popolari prodotti di elettronica di bordo sono ora disponibili...
MILANO, Italia / 21 febbraio 2024 / Garmin (NYSE: GRMN), il produttore di elettronica di bordo più innovativo e riconosciuto al mondo, presenta...
Christian Grande racconta Gem Diamond, la nuova bitta che unisce funzionalità e...
A quindici anni dalla creazione della prima bitta Gem di Foresti & Suardi, Christian Grande ha disegnato la nuova Gem Diamond, unendo funzionalità...
Garmin espande la linea di chartplotter GPSMAP x3 con la nuova versione da 16 pollici...
La nuova versione da 16 pollici fornisce un display multifunzione più grande per una maggiore chiarezza al timone. MILANO, Italia / 13...
Zuccon International Project incontra Dedar
Nasce una nuova importante collaborazione tra Zuccon International Project e l’azienda tessile Dedar con la creazione delle collezioni GEA, una selezione...